Festive Halo

Recursive celebration leaves behind insignificant memories of ample significance to be relished in future. Those were junior school days. The first high-hill shoes gifted the year we traveled to Kashmir during the Puja vacation is very vivid in mind. The blood red platform shoe that boosted height by two inches, slept by me for a few nights. That was innocent belonging-ness. The.The flowing 'Diana-gown', which Rini wore on the Astami night the year Diana got married to Prince Charles, was the first taste of what is call trend. The dance drama that was hosted in the community club during one such Panchami evening was the first public performance. Shampa Kakima and her husband organized the cultural program. Photography was just turning colorful those days.They were a few small happenings but great memories on the album. Each photo had a story beyond faces and names.

As youth engulfed, Durga Puja was a window to make new friends, catch up or occasionally iron out differences with old ones and become best friends. It was a freedom time. Special edition of popular magazines made its way to the reading table. Munnu’s father had a gramophone record player. Growing years visited their place to hear new songs released by HMV on such puja evenings. Small town was also flourishing and adopting new ways of community life. We swamped in the richness of time. Hopped pandal to pandal in Mark II Ambassador cars, tasted unbound roadside food and made social connect more than usual. Many such connects matured over years to relations with a purpose.

Life moves on and we move along. Many roads pursued, many flyovers built, many identities changed. Its twenty years since I first witnessed the city of joy decking up for the celebration. Several years now have seen the festive quotient rise and wave out with Durga Puja. Today the city had more cars than its designed for. I fail to name all models and Ambassador is history. So had been the transformation of celebration. Para Puja, big budget puja, theme puja, green puja, celebrity puja, apartment complex puja… they are all means to bundle the community joy on the ground that the goddess creates for five days at a stretch. Home coming of goddess is always heartwarming. Each home has more than one problem to solve within the four walls; however the enlightenment, levels all the pains for the sake of celebration. In the midst of overrated and branded world of change, her persistent beauty comes forth to show not all needs to change.

The alert message pops up. Friends keep sharing digital copy of goddesses being worshiped across all longitudes and latitudes. A few took vacation, images of snow clad Switzerland and sand smudged Rajasthan all unite in the smart phone picture folder. In less than two decades the world has become very close, courtesy technology. The omnipresent world is moving with you and waiting for your click. Rini’s new profile picture with Sindoor all over her forehead proclaimed they have celebrated Dashami in US last weekend.  She is still so trendy. Shampa Kakima is beyond all time zones. Fairly recall her tender hand holding. Munnu is a happy home-maker. Her vocal presentation on Saptami nights' cultural evening this year got super likes on the virtual album. 

The Dhaki's took a break, as the Sandhi Puja just got over.. The Nabami crawled in quite fast. Another year-long wait for the clock to tick the mega celebration for Bengali’s will begin soon. In the world where we are alone in virtual crowd she comes forth to show the beauty of togetherness. The chorus in the air – “Ashe bochor abar hobe!!”, keeps behind the truth of yester moments and evokes promises for tomorrow. 

Pair of Diamond

The view of how to enjoy this part of the year has changed over years. Not sure about the why part but the transformation had been pretty seamless. Faintly remember it was 1978 the year of major flood in eastern India. We had travelled to Kashmir as part of my father's bi yearly LTC program of his PSU package. I hardly understood what LTC is and why it is important then. And all I knew about package was the big fat “Hold all” (not all people of my generation also knows this word) – a thick cotton bag , generally very dull in color, which had a capacity to push is a couple of me and then a robust belts to tie it hard for long distance journey. We took one to Kashmir and had been to one of the Kali bari to be a part of Durga Puja celebration up on the hills. That was the fun - travel, tourism and hunt for Durga in alien land. What a game. The joy was more in hunting than the discovery. In pursuit of this hunt bumped into many more unknowns.

It is Puja time once more. My friends on face book have posted all forms of Durga from different parts of the world. Thy name is technology. Governments hugged each other and opened up the immigration gates. People flew across and with them flew the culture. Well off-course some scientist brothers thought beyond to build a machine that can fly and business men strategied over years to make that perfect. Science had always worked hard to meet the desires of Art.

Today in the world of themes in every corner, Durga Puja(s) in my city are all theme based attractive packages glorified with commercial awards and sponsorships. With aging parents was sharing family time, when the glossy news channel projected one of the local Puja committee celebration who have chosen Kashmir as their theme. Camera focused on fair complexion young girls in kashmiri cloaks dancing folklore. Press edition showed how countless pandal hopper are jostling to feel the numbness of the land which is so vibrant amidst the cold ambiance. It reminded me of that LTC tour. Hazy memories flashed through some in order and some in disorder.

Pondered what is the best memory of all times that stood to epitomise the celebration around.It was more than a decade from that LTC tour. Was on my way to join my family from my hostel in this mega city - which my home today. My father was out of station and hence was feeling more responsible to be with the rest of my family. Had taken a local train to reach my place. With many an unknown happiness reached home to understand that the night before there was a theft in my house. It was the black telephone era. So information had to wait till I reached, just to fall in deep trenches of fear and uncanny surroundings. Absolute zone of discomfort.

My mother , who is generally very emotional and sensitive stood normal. I knew she had been battling the odd that had resulted due to the preceding event. It took a while to settle. My brother was young enough to feel the commotion but was mostly cliching to ma. The sense of insecurity was inevitable. Post all interrogations and inquisitive perforation we sat for a lean lunch. I almost forgot that I had come down to celebrate Durga Puja.

The loud speaker from the near by pandal suddenly became vocal to play a old kishore song. Three of us sat on the open veranda very cosy to each other. The blue sky had a few spongy white bubble like clouds floating carelessly. Nature was gelling the upset mind. The police in me was pricking me. I couldn't resist my material mind to turn back and ask my mother -

"Ma, did you check all . Are you sure Nothing is missing?"

Ma smiled back to say - "I had two diamonds ." I never new ma had such rich jewels in possession. With wonders in eyes I enquired - "Did you check them?"

She continued in a relax tone with eye balls rolling to point my brother " One was sleeping by me" ..she just moved her vision pointed to me and continued " and the other was not in the house. So I was sure it was all in place."

I was baffled with what matter's for a mother's mind! That is what make this celebration even bigger.

Gyan #36 - Umbilical pride is a great possession.